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Are we seeing best of LeBron James?

HOUSTON – Two years ago, who knows how LeBron James would have answered the question. But we know his answer today. Already weary and leery of the Michael vs. Kobe vs. LeBron discussion, James knew the

HOUSTON – Two years ago, who knows how LeBron James would have answered the question.

But we know his answer today.

Already weary and leery of the Michael vs. Kobe vs. LeBron debate, James knew the question was coming – not only because of Michael Jordan's 50th birthday but also because Jordan opened his mouth and said he would take Bryant over James because Bryant has five titles and James has just one – entirely missing that James is six years younger and until recently never had as much talent around him as Bryant did for his five titles.

Bryant, for his part, hasn't gotten into the debate directly, but did agree with one aspect of Jordan's comments.

"I think the message is winning is above everything else," he said. "That's what drives (Jordan). Same thing that drives him now, win as many as you can. And it's really that simple."

James does want to win. It's the reason he left his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and led the formation of the Miami Heat super team three seasons ago. He finally got his elusive title last season and his team is the top seed in the Eastern Conference and appears to be primed for another run.

Still, James knows that there are some of the game's best players who don't have several championships or any, so he's not buying into Jordan's argument completely.

"At the end of the day, rings don't always define someone's career," he said. "Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest of all-time. Reggie Miller is one of the greatest of all-time. Sometimes, it's the situation you're in, the team that you're on and it's about timing as well."

Asked if Jordan's comments provided bulletin-board material, James replied, "What do I need bulletin-board material for? My inspiration is the game that I love."

What drives James?

"I want to be the best of all-time," he said.

He's on his way.

The three-time NBA MVP has the credentials to be considered for a fourth. He is averaging 27.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.7 steals and is shooting career highs in field goal percentage (56.5%) and three-point percentage (42.4%). As much as he handles the basketball, James is on pace to average less than three turnovers for the second time in his career.

James makes it look so effortless with grace and strength and he does it with such consistency, it's easy to take what he does for granted and not appreciate it as much as possible.

His game is compact and efficient and more and more difficult to defend. He puts intense pressure on defenses to make tough decisions, and then exploits them.

"If guys are playing up on me, then I'm driving," he said. "If guys back up, I'm shooting. If my teammates are open, I'm going to pass the ball, but I'm trying to be more aggressive and not letting guys off the hook."

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LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Two-time champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James scored Cleveland's final 25 points as the Cavaliers outlasted the Pistons 109-107 in double overtime of Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 on May 31, 2007. The Cavs overcame a 2-0 series deficit and won in six.
Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

In Cleveland, July 8, 2010, will forever be known for 'The Decision,' the day free agent LeBron James announced on ESPN that he was leaving the Cavaliers and taking his 'talents to South Beach' to join the Miami Heat.
Bob Luckey, Greenwich Time via AP

After finishing with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 5 of NBA Finals, LeBron James was not only able to hoist his first NBA championship trophy, he also was named MVP of the 2012 NBA Finals.
Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire

Right after he won an NBA title with the Heat, LeBron James was able to drape himself in the American flag after the USA defeated Spain 107-100 in the men's basketball gold medal game at the London Olympics.
Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports

South Beach hasn't always been fun and games for LeBron James. Here he walks off the court after Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on June 12, 2011. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series.
Lynne Sladky, AP

Before he left for Miami, LeBron James (23), celebrating with teammate Sasha Pavlovic after hitting the game winning three pointer against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, was perhaps the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history.
Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

LeBron was ruled ineligible and the end of his senior year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, because he accepted free sports jerseys, bringing a sudden end to the basketball star's celebrated high school career.
Tony Dejak, AP

The final piece of hardware for King James' 'corination' as an NBA champion came opening night of the 2012-13 season when LeBron James and his Heat teammates were given their championship rings during a ceremony before a game against the Celtics, on Oct. 30, 2012, in Miami.
J Pat Carter, AP

Workmen remove a large mural of LeBron James from a building in downtown Cleveland on July 10, 2010 after James, who had played seven years for the Cavaliers, signed with the Miami Heat after becoming a free agent.
Mark Duncan, AP

Heat forward LeBron James (6) celebrates with teammate Dwyane Wade (3) after winning the NBA championship in Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106.
Steve Mitchell, US Presswire

Before the Big Three of Dwyane Wade, left, Chris Bosh, center, and LeBron James, right, had played a single minute together, the Miami Heat threw an elaborate celebration at Miami's American Airlines Arena on July 9, 2010.
Al Diaz, AP

LeBron James and teammate Dwyane Wade are all smiles after their Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. The Miami Heat will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images

It was during the event to introduce LeBron James, left, and Chris Bosh, right, as Dwyane Wade's newest teammates, that James made his infamous 'Not one, not two, not three ..." prediction about the number of championships the Heat's Big Three would win together.
J.Pat Carter, AP

James' road to NBA stardom seemingly started while he was still in high school. As a standout for St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio, James quickly earned "next big thing" status with sports magazine covers and recognition on the USA TODAY All-USA boys basketball team for three consecutive years.
Eileen Blass, USA TODAY Sports

Despite a stinging playoff defeat in the 2007-08 Eastern Conference finals by his Cavaliers against the Celtics, LeBron James experienced victory in a busier-than-usual offseason, helping Team USA go undefeated on the way to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Greg Pearson, USA TODAY Sports

With the Cavs becoming semi-regular participants in the postseason, James' face became a familiar one in sports marketing. Nike, which signed James to a huge endorsement deal just before he turned pro, ramped up its promotion of its young star, creating a multi-generational fictional family 'The LeBrons'
Wieden and Kennedy

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James' play has been the focus the past seven games – all Heat victories. In that stretch, He has averaged 32 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and shot 69% from the field and 53.8% on three-pointers. He became the first player in NBA history to score at least 30 points and shoot at least 60% in six consecutive games.

For a guy as good as he is, it's hard to believe that he could have been better..

"I'm just a better player and as a result, a higher shooting percentage," James said. "I'm confident in my ability out on the floor. I don't feel like there's a shot I can't make that I take. It's not like I went to the offseason saying, 'OK, I'm going try to shoot 50% from the field.' I'm going to work on my game. I'm going to get better at what I do. What I do in the offseason and what I do in practice, I implement that into a game situation. This is the result."

Visions of spreadsheets and advanced statistical data must be dancing in Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's head when James mentions "efficiency." James maximizes his production in the minutes he plays.

In the past seven games with James on the court, the Heat have scored 125.6 points per 100 possessions, better than their league-leading 110.4 points per 100 possessions for the season.

"What he's doing now more than he's ever done is dominate games with his IQ and experience," Spoelstra said. "Now he's really starting to get it, and as the best player in the game, he's not letting teams off the hook. He's going to get the play he wants to get. If it's not available, he has the trust to let somebody else make the play or have the poise to still get what he wants to get."

Now here's where we get back to the original argument. If James' greatness has to be defined with winning, he appears to be making that happen as well,

"The best thing about what I've been able to do (in the past seven games) as a result is us having seven straight wins," he said. "That's more important than what I'm doing individually."

It's just that what he's doing individually is, as Spoelstra said, being a team player. The NBA ranks a player's playmaking ability and James is fourth in the league. He's also ranked fifth in efficiency and fifth best as the clutch player.

He also ranks 12th in the league in assists, a stat mostly resevered for guards. Why does a guy who is seemingly unstoppable offensively feel the need to share the ball?

James said it began as a kid with the coaches who shaped his vision of what the game should be. First Frank Walker Sr., in little league basketball, then Keith Dambrot and Dru Joyce in high school and AAU.

"If team is what it's all about and you're winning, why would you think differently? That was just my DNA," James said. "I've never changed my approach. It's who I am. It's how I was brought up. It's just how I play."

James' game has transcended into the Jordan-Bryant stratosphere, and it's a compliment, if not just a sports bar argument when James is compared to the greats. But James is his own player, unlike Jordan – just as Bryant is unlike Jordan and Magic Johnson unlike anyone else.

Here is the part that scares opponents and is exciting for basketball fans: Spoelstra believes James can improve.

"We don't want to want to put a ceiling on him. Why would we? And why would he?" Spoelstra said. "Most people would have said last year when he helped lead us to a title and had a career year, that's the best he can play. And yet, he's reinvented himself and found a way to go to another level."

So what does James think? Is this the best he's ever played?

"t's just right now we're witnessing it, so it's easy to say 'This is it,' " James said. "But I don't know. I've played some great basketball over my career. But as far as efficiency, I haven't played like this."